Melissa Hart: Urban Climate Scientist & Research Training Leader
Professor Melissa Hart is a climate scientist specializing in urban climate systems, air pollution, and researcher development. She currently serves as Associate Director for Training and Leadership at the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, based at the University of Tasmania. Her work explores the impact of cities on climate and climate on cities, focusing on meteorological controls on air quality, thermal comfort, and urban heat.
Melissa is internationally recognized for her leadership in climate science education. As Co-Chair of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Academy, she helps shape global training programs for early-career researchers. She previously directed graduate programs at the ARC Centres of Excellence for Climate System Science and Climate Extremes, supporting over 460 PhD students across Australia.
Her research integrates urban observations, climate modeling, and citizen science, with recent publications in Nature, Springer, and Environmental Research Letters. She has led school-based sensor deployments for air quality monitoring and co-authored a study analyzing smartwatch accuracy for measuring ambient temperature—advancing public climate literacy.
🌏 Current Roles & Contributions
- Associate Director – Training & Leadership, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather
- Co-Chair, WCRP Academy
- Adjunct Professor, Climate Change Research Centre – UNSW Sydney
📚 Academic Excellence & Recognitions
- UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Higher Degree Research Leadership
- Publications in urban heat, air quality, and citizen science
- Profiled in The Australian Higher Education Supplement
🌍 Affiliations & Influence
- University of Tasmania – Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
- UNSW Sydney – Climate Change Research Centre
- Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society – Past Chair, Equity & Diversity Committee
- Homeward Bound – Women in STEMM Leadership Program (2018 cohort)
